Preston North End: Lilywhites’ Aston Villa loanee is making his mark

Kaine Kesler-Hayden’s weak effort to open the scoring against Stoke City was his first goal for Preston North End since joining on loan from Aston Villa in the summer.

The Potters hit back through a second-half Lewis Baker penalty, but the right-wing back took the plaudits with a man-of-the-match performance at Deepdale.

The versatile 22-year-old has had an excellent season for the Lilywhites.

His manager, Paul Heckingbottom, was keen to acknowledge his goal after the match.

HONEST: Heckingbottom

Instinct

“I’ve not seen his first-touch [for the goal] back, but he’s been practising that touch, right foot, trying to find the bottom corner.

“I don’t know if it was instinct or if he felt the left-back was covering that space, but he dragged it inside and got the goal.

“I’m pleased for him, and hopefully, he can get a couple more before the end of the season.”

On the game itself, Heckingbottom acknowledged Preston were largely second-best.

“We’ll take the point,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s a penalty, so I’m disappointed we didn’t get all three points, but I also don’t think the performance deserved three, so we’ll take the point and move on.

“They got on top at the start of the second-half, and I think they won all the duels, but we’re going to get games like that.

“They’re fighting to stay in the league, so that’s what our games are going to be like, Cardiff, Plymouth, Hull away.

“We weren’t good enough with the ball to take the sting out of the game.

“That’s a recipe for coming second best.”